October Clouds

This morning, at day break, I looked out to the east and saw this glorious sunrise...

Also this...

 

and this...

and this...

I couldn't stop staring at the beautiful heavens.


But the Painter of Skies was not finished crafting wispy, gold, lilac and azure beauty.

The evening brought this autumn surprise...

 and this...

 and this...

and for the finale, in the west, He painted this...

Quite the day of amazing clouds.

 The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
 

 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
 

 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
 

It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
 

 It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

(Psalm 19:1-6)

Warren plays the pied piper to Piper

This is a follow up on my Purpose Driven post down below 'Is God Purpose Driven?'.  It's currently making the 'rounds' that John Piper has invited Rick Warren to speak at his upcoming Desiring God conference. Piper met Warren at a funeral and striking up a conversation, found him very likable.  Piper asked Warren some very direct questions about his pragmatic methods (which Piper is against) and was bowled over by Warren's responses.  I first read about this disturbing development on Lighthouse Trails newsletter.  Yesterday while researching something else I came across a new post from blogger and friend of John MacArthur, Phil Johnson where he discusses the fallout from Piper's announcement and his own balanced thoughts on the matter.  It's a very well written post that I agree with whole heartedly.  You can read it here:

http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-piper-warren-connection.html

I also highly recommend clicking on the links Johnson provides at the end of his post, particularly the response from Chris Rosebrough, which is an audio file. (Listen to the first half of his Pirate Radio broadcast) These men offer valid and discerning insight into Rick Warren's ability to 'read' his audience and say whatever he needs to disarm any mistrust you might have toward him.  I believe that our brother, an amazing Pastor and teacher, John Piper would do well to heed their words.  He has been played by Warren in my opinion.  I will be praying that God turns the tables on Warren and he is exposed, and hopefully he will repent and begin to declare the true biblical gospel and stand for Christianity that honors God's word.  

Another resource I came across from Rosebrough describes the tactics that are employed by Purpose Driven methodologies in Churches undergoing PD transitioning.  How eerie to see the exact list of maneuvers we experienced 3 years ago when our Church was merged with a Purpose Driven group in the same denomination.  I always believed in my heart that the entire experience was planned in advance much like when businesses engage in a 'hostile takeover'.  

Here is an excerpt from Rosebrough's blog, followed by a link where you can read (or listen as it were) the whole thing.

Exposing The Cult-Like Hostile Takeover Tactics of the Purpose-Driven Church Transitioning Seminar

Below is a Special Edition of the Fighting for the Faith radio program that exposes the Cult-Like Hostile Takeover Tactics of Dan Southerland's Purpose-Driven Church Transtioning Seminar. The list of cult-like tactics employed by Southerland is LONG. They include:

1. Flat out lies and manipulative double speak
2. Blatant Scripture Twisting
3. New & Direct Extra Biblical Revelation and Visions from God
4. Flat out intolerance for anyone who questions or challenges these "new" Extra Biblical Revelations and Visions that are supposedly from God.

All of these cult-like tactics are exposed and discussed in this special edition of F4F. Furthermore, I cannot emphasize enough the fact that Dan Southerland's Church Transitions company has been the "go to" company used by Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven businesses to train pastors into Warren's Druckerite leadership methodologies.

http://www.extremetheology.com/rick-warren/

Me again...  If anyone would like to hear how those 4 tactics were specifically fulfilled in the situation we encountered back in 2007, I'd be happy to write them up.  Let me know in a comment.  (Sadly we recently left a Church when, at the end of a long Pastoral search, the gentleman chosen as Pastor seemed to follow a mixture of vision and methodologies fairly similar to PD.  For us the deciding issue was his treatment of scripture.)  It is grievous to my heart that many Christians may be getting side tracked onto a man-made, though well meaning perhaps, agenda with a mixture of truth and error.  May the Lord protect His people from false or simply misguided Shepherds which seem to be more in number in America than those faithful to teach and apply scripture.

Free Food for the Soul/Spirit!

Okay, I know it's been way too long since I've 'blogged' but that's probably going to be my modus operandi!  To splatter my blog with several entries and then not post for weeks.  My life is kind of like that.  But I do want all 2 or 3 of you to know that I actually have at least 3 blog topics percolating in my head and heart.  One will be a lengthy consideration of the topic of what is Church supposed to be/do/look like.  Prompted by yet another Church upheaval in our lives.  I find myself considering, praying and asking God for wisdom again on this topic...wanting our family to make a decision based solely on the word of God, as that is what we believe would be in line with His specific will for our family.  He has already informed us through His word on what He intends His church to be 'doing and being', we don't need a fleece or to cast lots in order to follow His will.  Okay...but that's for LATER!

The other entry brewing is some boring chit chat about my garden, with photos, perhaps.  ;o)

THIS post is supposed to about some FREE food for the soul and spirit.  I recently learned about this website from my homeschooling friend Nancy; ChristianAudio.com which offers FREE AUDIO books every month.  AWESOME!  Currently, through the end of March you can download Dietrich Boenhoeffer's 'The Cost of Discipleship';  John Piper's 'Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die' and at the moment also a new audio book  'Pilgrims Progress Retold'  (a modern rendition of John Bunyan's timeless classic).  I already downloaded Bonhoeffer's book and plan to copy it onto cd's to play in the car.  Just downloaded Pilgrim's Progress which I'll compare to another audio version of the tale I have, to see which I prefer.  ;o) And I am about to download Piper's book, as I think it will be a perfect thoughtful listen as we near 'Easter' (which I prefer to call 'Resurrection Sunday'). 

So, would you like to get in on the free stuff?  Then go to https://christianaudio.com/  (if you click on this blog post's title, you will be directed to Christian audio) 
Create a free account and click on the 'free download' links.  ;o)  Then you just go through a short check out process, enter the special free download code and whala!  You'll get a link to a page where you can download the audio files, with your choice of a couple of formats:  mp3 or some type suited for Apple products. 

Christian Audio has all kinds of other goodies to browse and buy, some are very good deals!  But be sure to go for solid biblical authors, since they also sell materials by some so called 'teachers' that I wouldn't give a moment of your time or mine to ingest their influence.  A lot of what I'd call 'popular poo poo' is out there, so don't read any of that stuff!  And if you don't know which is the safe stuff and which is the trash, ask a trusted discerning, mature believer.  And if you don't know any of those people, you need to find some new mentors and maybe a new church... and I'd be happy to give you MY opinion on various authors.  ;o)

Blessings!

A New Look for the New Year

Okay, it's still January (barely!) so I can yet get away with a 'new year' blog post, right?  ;o) The other day I found a link at a friends blog to these cool blog backgrounds, and AMAZINGLY I was actually able to follow the instructions and add this particular scheme to freshen up my page.  The only thing missing is the cool feather drawing that was part of the center design.  Apparently it gets covered up by the text area.  Sadly, that feather was what sold me on this design, but oh well!  I still like the natural colors and elements... it suits me!  So this 'look' will probably stay for a while... probably till Spring when I may switch looks again.  As an artsy type, aesthetics rule.  Anyway... my rambling may not be too inspiring, so at least you have some pretty doo dads to distract you!  So thank you (fill in name of blog background designer later when I go find it again) for the fun blog costumes!

Well it's pretty obvious that I haven't been inspired to say much in the way of something humorous, or artistic, or soap boxish for a while.  Truth be told, I focused steadfastly on my family over the holidays and had one of the most blessed Christmas times I've enjoyed in a long time.  It was a healing and sweet holiday in many little ways.  The introduction of Bethanne into our midst had a magical effect on the season, for me.  Seeing the tree,   lights and wrappings etc. from her toddler's perspective was so joyful.  I had more fun Christmas shopping and preparing than I've had in many years just by keeping her sweet face in mind.  We were so happy to be able to have Zac and Lisa over several times over the season. 

Jared was home for a shorter than usual break and it is his last 'official' stay at home, as the plan at the moment is for him to remain in Portland over the summer... he's not had great luck finding work here the past couple of summers.  So, in effect he's gone, possibly for good as far as 'living at home' goes.  This was very very hard for me, so I really soaked up his presence in the everyday aspects that may not 'be' again.  He and Jesse laughing over silly computer games (which they indulged in WAY too much), talking quietly late into the night. 

I can't stop the nest from emptying, I can dread it and cry about it, but I can't stop it... so I'm trying to take deep breaths and allow this stage to progress as God intends and not miss what IS here because I'm too focused on the unwanted changes that are coming around the bend.  Last year I listened to the audio of Beth Moore's book 'Feathers from My Nest', and I could relate so much to many of the things she shared as a mother whose babies have flown off to their own lives.  She weaves an allegorical tale of mr and mrs robin as they vacate their nest and head in a new direction that was sweet, and fitting.

So here I am in 2010 and by the time this decade has ended, it is quite likely that my life will be something I cannot imagine at all today... and truly the year 2000 seems like last week!  Time truly passes more swiftly as I age, my life is gaining steam in a direction that is somewhat scary to me.  But I am so amazingly thankful to know that God oversees my journey day by day, that He's with me, closer than my heartbeat and even though I'm not exactly looking forward to the next phase of my life... (old ladyhood),  it is just a temporary season that will finally end with my entrance into the most exciting, most dreamt of, unending eternal full existence in God's Kingdom.  I'll see Jesus face to face, touch His robe, and follow His footsteps for real!  I'll witness the intricate beauty of a place that the broken loveliness of our fallen earth can only hint at.  If my own little family on earth has been my treasure, my meaning and comfort... can you imagine what fully living in God's home with our big happy family might be like.  I can hardly wait.  So Lord, let the future come.  My anchor and hope are in You and in Your promises.